No. 2 Arizona Overpowers Colorado in Second Half

Freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries combine for 56 points in 89-79 victory

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

No. 2 Arizona overcame a tight first half to pull away from Colorado in the second half, winning 89-79 behind strong performances from freshmen Koa Peat (25 points) and Brayden Burries (31 points). Arizona set a program record with 29 regular season wins, while Colorado's Isaiah Johnson broke the school's freshman scoring record with 28 points.

Why it matters

This was an important late-season matchup between two Big 12 teams looking to build momentum heading into the conference tournament. Arizona's ability to pull away in the second half demonstrated their depth and talent, while Colorado's strong first-half showing highlighted their potential despite a losing conference record.

The details

Arizona trailed for much of the first half before closing the gap to 38-36 at halftime. The Wildcats then took control in the second half, going on a 12-2 run to build a 73-64 lead with 7:15 remaining. Burries scored 22 of his 31 points in the second half to lead the Arizona comeback. Colorado's Isaiah Johnson set the school's freshman scoring record with 28 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Arizona's second-half surge.

  • Arizona set the program record for most wins in a regular season with 29.
  • Colorado's Isaiah Johnson broke the program's freshman scoring record, scoring a career-high 28 points to put him at 526 points on the season.

The players

Koa Peat

A freshman forward for Arizona who scored 25 points in the game.

Brayden Burries

A freshman guard for Arizona who scored a career-high 31 points, including 22 in the second half.

Isaiah Johnson

A freshman guard for Colorado who broke the school's freshman scoring record with 28 points.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Arizona's depth and talent proved too much for Colorado in the second half, as the Wildcats pulled away to set a new program record for regular season wins. While Colorado put up a strong fight, led by Isaiah Johnson's record-breaking performance, they ultimately couldn't overcome Arizona's second-half surge.